Canadians cynical about "green" marketing: survey

TORONTO (Reuters) - About 80 percent of Canadians say they
think of the environment when making purchasing decisions, but
most think that companies' "green" claims are just a marketing
ploy, a survey released on Monday found.

Seventy-five percent of 1,500 Canadians surveyed by the
Gandalf Group on behalf of Toronto advertising agency Bensimon
Byrne said they were cynical about environmentally friendly
claims.

As well, 85 percent of Canadians said they want regulated
standards for producers and labeling that certifies and
explains terms such as "organic," "low emissions," and "green."

Almost two-thirds said they don't understand why it's more
expensive to buy environmentally friendly products, the survey
found.

The same number of respondents also said they don't believe
"green" products cost more to make, but that companies claim a
product is environmentally friendly so that they can charge
more for it.

The survey found that while 83 percent of Canadians say
they are motivated to make personal changes that would benefit
the environment, only 39 percent are very or somewhat
financially able to make such moves.